WATERBURY CENTER — The Green Mountain Club has announced a $50,000 challenge match donation for the planned Long Trail footbridge over the Winooski River.

The club has already raised more than $550,000 from private donors to support the project. This, in addition to the longstanding support of and land protection efforts by the state, has brought the club to within $115,000 of its fundraising goal.

An anonymous donor has offered to match every donation to the project between now and the end of August, up to $50,000.

GMC officials said the club has sought to establish a safe, appropriate and permanent route for the Long Trail over the Winooski River in Bolton since 1912, when the club established the first stretch of the trail from Mount Mansfield to the river.

The club expects to break ground on this project by June and complete it in the fall.